# Angel (Shaggy song)

"Angel" is a song by Jamaican reggae artist Shaggy featuring additional vocals from Barbadian singer Rayvon. Sampling the 1973 song "The Joker" by American rock band Steve Miller Band and interpolating the 1967 song "Angel of the Morning" written by Chip Taylor, it was released to radio on 9 January 2001 as the follow-up to Shaggy's international number-one hit, "It Wasn't Me". "Angel" also proved to be successful, reaching number one in 12 countries, including Australia, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

## Composition

The song prominently samples the bassline from the 1973 song "The Joker" by American rock band Steve Miller Band. The chorus interpolates the melody of the 1967 song "Angel of the Morning", written and composed by American songwriter Chip Taylor, that has been recorded numerous times and has been a hit single for various artists, including American singers Merrilee Rush and Juice Newton.

## Commercial reception

The song debuted at number 81 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on the week ending 30 December 2000. The song first entered the top 40 at number 39 on the week ending 20 January 2001. It peaked at number one on the chart week of 31 March 2001, for one week. According to Billboard writer Silvio Pietroluongo, "Angel" beat Crazy Town's "Butterfly" to number one by a margin of two points, which was the smallest gap between two singles since the magazine began having its charts stored digitally in 1985. It was also the second song to reach number one without a retail release, after Aaliyah's "Try Again" (2000), although physical formats would later be issued in the United States on 24 April 2001. "Angel" was the 17th-most-successful song of 2001 in the US and has sold 1,494,000 digital copies in the US as of April 2016.
Internationally, the song reached number one in Australia, Austria, Flanders, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, topping the Eurochart Hot 100 as well. In Australia, it peaked atop the ARIA Singles Chart for eight weeks, finishing fourth on the Australian year-end chart for 2001. It was also an enduring hit in Ireland, where it is the 20th-highest-selling single of all time.

## Music video

The music video was directed by Cameron Casey. It features Shaggy and Rayvon relaxing in a private plane and driving around in luxury cars.

## Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the Hot Shot album booklet.
Studios
* Recorded at Big Yard Studios (Jamaica), Ranch Recording Studios (Valley Stream, New York), and HC&F Studio (Freeport, New York)
* Mixed at Ranch Recording Studios (Valley Stream, New York)
* Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City)
Personnel
* Steve Miller – writing
* Ahmet Ertegun – writing
* Eddie Curtis – writing
* Chip Taylor – writing
* Gordon Dukes – background vocals
* Robert Zapata – guitar
* Phillip George Henry – guitar
* Carlos Sanchez – keyboard
* Shaun "Sting" Pizzonia – drums, production, recording, mixing
* Chris Gehringer – mastering

## Certifications and sales

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | 3× Platinum | 210,000$^^$ |
| Austria (IFPI Austria) | Platinum | 40,000$^*$ |
| Belgium (BEA) | Platinum | 50,000$^*$ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) | Platinum | 8,000$^^$ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) reissue | Gold | 45,000$^‡$ |
| France (SNEP) | Gold | 250,000$^*$ |
| Germany (BVMI) | Gold | 250,000$^‡$ |
| Netherlands (NVPI) | Platinum | 60,000$^^$ |
| Norway (IFPI Norway) | Platinum | |
| Sweden (GLF) | 2× Platinum | 60,000$^^$ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) | Platinum | 40,000$^^$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) 2001 release | Gold | 620,000 |
| United Kingdom (BPI) 2004 release | Platinum | 600,000$^‡$ |
| United States | — | 1,494,000 |
| $^*$ Sales figures based on certification alone. $^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone. $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |||

## Release history

| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) |
| United States | 9 January 2001 | Rhythmic contemporary radio | MCA |
| United States | 30 January 2001 | Contemporary hit radio | MCA |
| United States | 24 April 2001 | Maxi-CD | MCA |
| Japan | 28 April 2001 | CD | Universal Music Japan |
| Australia | 28 May 2001 | CD | MCA |
| United Kingdom | 28 May 2001 | 12-inch vinylCDcassette | MCA |

## Later versions

* German singer Max Raabe and Palast Orchester covered the song in a big band style, for his 2001 album, Super Hits 2.
* In 2001, the parody song "You Ripped Off Angel (of the Morning)" was released by Adam Posegate and received airplay on the Dr. Demento Show.
* R&B artist Bei Maejor did a version of this song sampling the chorus and the beat. It appeared on his mixtape Upsideown2.
* For the 20th anniversary re-recording of Hot Shot, Rayvon's part is performed by Sting instead.